1. Llanos

Our most highly recommended trip is to a tourist and research station in the heart of these seasonal wetlands which consist of flooded savannas and gallery forests (click here for technical information and description). Tourists stay at Hato El Cedral, which borders a tributary of the Orinoco river. Stay at El Cedral includes overland and river excursions which last for 3+ hours and depart twice a day to different locations. We highly recommend that our customers visit this extraordinary habitat, it presents some of the most accessible and exciting wildlife viewing in all of Latin America. As research biologists we have traveled to over 12 countries in Latin America and elsewhere, and thus far nothing compares to the density and diversity of wildlife that can be easily seen in even one day in the llanos of Venezuela.

2. Andes Mountains

Visit the Andean paramo and montane forests while and staying in Merida, a scenic city that has the flavor of a "college town" due to the presence of its local University. Trip includes stay at a comfortable hotel either in the city or in resort hotels located within a short drive to the city, and includes a tram ride that begins in Merida and ascends to over 12,000 feet altitude. Hikes into the mountain paramo and cloud forests are often a favorite for visiting naturalists.

Merida offers the unique flavor of the Andean mountains and its people, combined with wildlife and habitat that seems surprisingly out of place in its tropical flavor. Travel to the outskirts of the city provides many opportunities to sample and purchase and taste some of the home grown wine, cheese, jams, and other local favorites, as well as shop for "artesianas" or home made goods (rugs, jewelry, native ceramics and wood carvings, for example) that are uniquely of the Andean people.

 

 

 

3. Henri Pittier National Park

This is a lush and diverse park that is located approximately 2 hours outside of Caracas. This preserve is famous world-wide by ornithologists for its phenomenal bird-watching opportunities and high habitat diversity. Tourists will stay at a small resort hotel located next to the park, and information is provided for independent hikes. Our own naturalist guides are also well-versed in the habitats and bird species present within the park.

4. Margarita Island on the Caribbean

Enjoy the Caribbean waters, white beaches, coral reefs, and diverse endemic species of this island located just off the coast of Venezuela mainland. Depending on your preferences, we can recommend our favorite places whether you are looking to stay on a modest budget or spoil yourself at one of the more luxurious resorts. Wildlife and cultural experiences are diverse, and snorkeling or diving in the warm, beautiful coastal waters is highly recommended.

5. Puerto Ayacucho and Amazonas

This is the gate to the rainforest. The rainforest is so dense and pristine that this is the end of the road, there are no other roads that go further into the jungle! Stay in a comfortable hotel on the outskirts of town and travel and hike through the rainforest. Depending on your interests, there are various activities you can enjoy, from river rafting trips, swimming at a natural waterfall "toboggan", private plane flights into the rainforest, to shopping in a large market where the local indigenous tribes sell hand-made goods (tribes include Yanomami, Yekuana, and Paroari among others).

6. Angel Falls and Canaima, the largest falls in the world, or to one of the Tepui mountains; the unique flat-topped mountain formations that are found nowhere else in the world, and house many endemic species also isolated to their Tepui habitats. Our trips would lead you up the river in canoes, in exiting hikes through the mountains and breath taking aerial surveys of the area are also included.

The following is some background information about our company. It is probably obvious that we are not an agency with high overhead, expensive brochures, etc. Our goal is to keep overhead costs at a minimum so that we can stay competitive and offer you the best prices available for travel to Venezuela. We are, in fact, conservation biologist that use tourism as tool to do conservation. We love Venezuela and its wildlife, and ecotourism is one of the few ways to promote real wildlife and environmental conservation in the country. Not only our tourist activity promotes sustainable development and provides the rural communities with another source of income but also we contribute directly for conservation programs. Half of the profit of this operation goes to the Asosiacion para Conservación y Rescate Ecologico (ACRE), a Venezuelan non-profit organization that organizes conservation projects involving wildlife, habitat conservation and environmental education.

We hope this information helps you decide on what and where you would like to go. Remember, we specialize in adapting your vacation to your specific interests, and time and budget constrains, so the key is that if you have ANY questions at all, CONTACT US via e-mail